Designer Billy Reid is opening a store in Georgetown. Photograph courtesy of the designer.

We’ve been the noticing the trend in men’s boutiques and chains opening in Washington for quite some time now, but we remained a bit skeptical that Billy Reid, the multi-award-winning designer who has just nine stores in his retail portfolio (eight of those in the South), would bring his wares to our neck of the woods, as has been rumored for several months. But it’s an urban fashion legend, no more—he’s really coming. “We knew he wanted to open a store here for a while,” says Nancy Miyahira, marketing director for the Georgetown Business Improvement District. “Each year more and more unique and exclusive designers are looking to open in Georgetown, which we feel is a testament to the strength of our leadership position as DC’s main fashion district.” Reid and his team must think so, too, as they’re overhauling the old Pizzeria Uno space at 3211 M Street, Northwest, in time for a late-April opening, according to Sarah Trapp of Billy Reid. While Trapp was tight-lipped on specifics, we can assume the new boutique will have the same Dixie charm of Reid’s other eponymous stores—think polished wood, hunting-lodge chic, and antebellum flair with a modern twist type interior.

Known primarily for his menswear collections, Reid in 2010 won both the CFDA Award for Best New Designer and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. In June of last year, he also nabbed the prestigious CFDA Best Menswear Designer of the Year honors. His style is particularly reflective of his Southern roots, with an emphasis on casual sportswear crafted with exceptional tailoring, while reflecting a true “homespun” feel. It’s not a stretch to say Reid is a darling of the fashion industry, owing in large part to his humble attitude, characteristic American style, and endearing commitment to keep his base of operations in tiny Florence, Alabama, rather than Manhattan’s Meatpacking District or some other saturated fashion hub. Miyahira, for her part, is looking forward to Reid’s “Southern-bred luxury” mixing well with Georgetown’s “historic charm.” Nicely put; we’d have to agree.